Voting is under way for the PPAI Board of Directors Class of 2022 and will run through Friday. PPB Newslink is taking a closer look at each of the four candidates, and today spotlights Steve Levschuk, president of London, Ontario, distributor Talbot Marketing (PPAI 100789).

Levschuk has worked in the promotional products industry for more than 21 years and has served on the PPPC Board of Directors, as a PPAI International Committee member and as a member of the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) Board of Trustees. He is the current president of the World Advertising Gift Exchange (WAGE) Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Talbot Marketing, Levschuk worked in the direct mail industry as well as with supplier King Craft—a division of AUI, which was later purchased by Norwood Promotional Products. Levschuk earned his Honors diploma in Business: Advertising from St. Clair College.

Outside the industry, Levschuk participates in his community as a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau and Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. He is also a member of McKay CEO Forums. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, running and reading.

Asked how PPAI can best use its limited resources to fulfill the Association’s mission of protecting and growing the industry, while simultaneously ensuring the success of a diverse and sometimes disparate constituency, Levschuk says, “I think PPAI can fulfill its overall mission of protecting and growing the industry by continuing to look for new and innovative ways to engage and excite its current membership of over 14,000 member companies. If these members feel they belong to something meaningful and relevant, they will become passionate members who care about the professional association they belong to. They will be excited to talk positively about ‘their’ association, thereby acting as ambassadors for PPAI.

“In addition, I believe PPAI should continue to look for new markets to expand its membership and reach. Trade associations around the world are struggling; PPAI is not following this trend. While associations are becoming insolvent and less relevant, PPAI is growing and flourishing. There is a void for good, solid industry leadership around the world. PPAI should look for a way to fill this void, thereby growing its membership base and fulfilling its overall mission.”

The annual PPAI board election gives members an opportunity to select leaders who can transform the Association. This year's Board of Directors election will be conducted online and by paper ballot. Paper ballots have been mailed to all voters. To learn more about the election, who can vote and how to vote and the distributor and supplier candidates, visit PPAI's website. The results of the election will be published in early October.